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<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000930661-02-004337
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20021203
<ITEMS>2
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20021216
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ATMOS ENERGY CORP
<CIK>0000731802
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4924
<IRS-NUMBER>751743247
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>TX
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
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<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-10042
<FILM-NUMBER>02858651
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1800 THREE LINCOLN CTR
<STREET2>5430 LBJ FREEWAY
<CITY>DALLAS
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75240
<PHONE>9729349227
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1800 THREE LINCOLN CTR
<STREET2>5430 LBJ FREEWAY
<CITY>DALLAS
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>75240
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ENERGAS CO
<DATE-CHANGED>19881024
</FORMER-COMPANY>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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 <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>Form 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4"
COLOR="#000000"><B>Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>December 3, 2002 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of Report (Date of
earliest event reported) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6"
COLOR="#000000"><B>ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>TEXAS AND VIRGINIA</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>1-10042</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>75-1743247</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or Other Jurisdiction of</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"
COLOR="#000000"><B>Incorporation or Organization)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission File Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(I.R.S. Employer</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification
No.)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
 </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>1800 THREE LINCOLN CENTRE,</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>5430
LBJ FREEWAY, DALLAS, TEXAS</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>75240</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Zip Code)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
 </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(972) 934-9227 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Not
Applicable </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE
COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">

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<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">ITEM 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">On December 3, 2002, through a merger of Mississippi Valley Gas Company, a Mississippi corporation (&#147;MVG&#148;), with and into the Registrant, the
Registrant acquired all the assets of MVG. The Registrant announced the closing of the acquisition in a press release dated December 4, 2002, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated herein by reference. The
acquisition was consummated pursuant to that certain Agreement of Merger and Plan of Reorganization entered into by and among the Registrant, MVG, and the Shareholders of MVG on September 21, 2001 (the &#147;Agreement&#148;). Such Agreement is
included as Exhibit 2.1 hereto, which is also incorporated herein by reference. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The purchase price of approximately $150 million, paid
equally in cash and stock of the Registrant, plus the assumption of MVG&#146;s debt, was determined through arms-length negotiations between the parties. At no time has the Registrant or any of its affiliates, directors or officers or any associate
of any of its directors or officers had a material relationship with MVG or any of its shareholders, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, the Estate of Leon Hess and the Twenty-Five Year Charitable Lead Annuity Trust under the Will of Leon Hess.
The Registrant financed the cash portion of the acquisition primarily from a borrowing of $147,000,000 under that certain Bridge Credit Agreement dated as of October 7, 2002 between the Registrant and Bank One, N.A. and other lenders. The closing of
the transaction was conditioned, among other things, upon approvals from the regulatory commissions of seven states, including the Mississippi Public Service Commission, as well as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice,
which approvals were received prior to the closing of the transaction. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The assets acquired from MVG through the merger consist of the
property, plant and equipment used in MVG&#146;s regulated natural gas sales and distribution business in the State of Mississippi, as well as the assets of its three subsidiaries engaged respectively in the regulated water sales and distribution
business, regulated wastewater treatment business and unregulated natural gas sales and distribution-related business. The Registrant intends to continue to utilize the assets of MVG primarily in the same manner as utilized before the acquisition.
</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Effective December 3, 2002, as a result of the merger, the MVG assets and operations have become the Mississippi Valley Gas Company
Division of the Registrant, which the Registrant will continue to operate along with its Atmos Energy Colorado/Kansas, Atmos Energy Kentucky, Atmos Energy Louisiana, Atmos Energy Mid-States and Atmos Energy Texas divisions. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">ITEM 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(c)</FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Exhibits </FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">2.1</FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated September 21, 2001 by and among Atmos Energy Corporation, Mississippi Valley Gas Company, and the
Shareholders of Mississippi Valley Gas Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Registrant&#146;s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 (File No. 1-10042)). </FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
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<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">News Release of Atmos Energy Corporation dated December 4, 2002. </FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE>

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 <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">SIGNATURE </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
COLOR="#000000">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV>
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<TD COLSPAN="3"> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Registrant)</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">DATE:&nbsp;&nbsp;December 16, 2002</FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;LOUIS P. GREGORY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"
ALIGN="left"></TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Louis P. Gregory</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Senior Vice President
and General Counsel</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
 </TABLE> </DIV>

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 <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">EXHIBIT INDEX </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item Number</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="44" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Description</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="65" COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="7%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">&nbsp;&nbsp;2.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated September 21, 2001 by and among Atmos Energy Corporation, Mississippi Valley Gas Company, and the
Shareholders of Mississippi Valley Gas Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Registrant&#146;s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 (File No. 1-10042)).</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="7%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">News Release of Atmos Energy Corporation dated December 4, 2002.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>dex991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>NEWS RELEASE
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 <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>EXHIBIT 99.1 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>NEWS RELEASE </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">[ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION LOGO
APPEARS HERE] </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
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<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="57%"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Media contacts: </I></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD><DIV STYLE="margin-left:1%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Financial analysts contact: </I></FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="57%"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Gerald Hunter </I></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD><DIV STYLE="margin-left:1%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Susan Kappes </I></FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="57%"><DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>(972) 855-3116 </I></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD><DIV STYLE="margin-left:1%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>(972) 855-3729 </I></FONT></DIV> </TD></TR></TABLE><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Phil
Hardwick </I></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Mississippi Valley Gas Company </I></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>(601) 360-1462 </I></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Atmos Energy Corporation Completes </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Acquisition
of Mississippi Valley Gas Company </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">DALLAS (December 4, 2002)&#151;Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) said that it completed its
acquisition of Mississippi Valley Gas Company, Mississippi&#146;s largest natural gas utility, on December 3. Atmos Energy paid consideration of approximately $75 million cash and $75 million in Atmos Energy common stock. Atmos Energy also repaid
approximately $45 million of Mississippi Valley Gas&#146; long-term debt. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Atmos Energy said it expects the acquired operations to be
slightly accretive to fiscal 2003 earnings, excluding any one-time charges related to the acquisition. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The transaction is Atmos
Energy&#146;s ninth major acquisition since 1986 and raises its number of natural gas utility customers to approximately 1.7 million. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
COLOR="#000000">&#147;We are very pleased Mississippi Valley Gas is now part of Atmos Energy,&#148; said Robert W. Best, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Atmos Energy Corporation. &#147;Mississippi Valley Gas has a long history of
excellence in customer service. We will honor that past as we help Mississippians build for their future. We thank the employees of Mississippi Valley Gas for their continued dedicated service and for their assistance in working with us to complete
this transaction.&#148; </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Mississippi Valley Gas, based in Jackson, Mississippi, serves approximately 260,000 customers in 144 communities
throughout 36 counties of Mississippi. Residential customers account for approximately 90 percent of its customer base and for 50 percent of its revenues. Mississippi Valley Gas operates a 5,500-mile distribution system and 335 miles of transmission
pipeline. The utility owns two </FONT></DIV>

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 <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">underground gas storage facilities, having a combined working gas capacity of 2.05 billion cubic feet. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is one of the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving about 1.7 million utility
customers. Atmos Energy&#146;s utility operations serve more than 1,000 small and medium-size communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy&#146;s nonutility operations, organized
under Atmos Energy Holdings, operate in 18 states. They provide natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers, manage company-owned natural gas storage and pipeline assets, construct small electric
generating plants for industrial and municipal customers, and hold an indirect equity interest in Heritage Propane Partners, L.P., the fourth-largest U.S. propane marketer. For more information, visit atmosenergy.com. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><I>Forward-Looking Statements </I></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The matters
discussed or incorporated by reference in this news release may contain &#147;forward-looking statements&#148; within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements
other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements made in good faith by the Company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or in any of the Company&#146;s other documents or oral presentations, the words &#147;anticipate,&#148; &#147;expect,&#148; &#147;estimate,&#148; &#147;plans,&#148; &#147;believe,&#148;
&#147;objective,&#148; &#147;forecast,&#148; &#147;goal&#148; or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in the statements relating to the Company&#146;s earnings per share projections, operations, markets, services, rates, recovery of costs, availability of gas supply and other factors. A discussion of these
risks and uncertainties may be found in the Company&#146;s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002. Although the Company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual
experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. We undertake no obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"># # # </FONT></DIV>
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